COACH Enio Sacilotto was reduced to the role of a watching evaluator as his Bracknell Bees side made a surprise winning start to the Superleague Championship play-offs last night.

Bees' boss declined to expand on why he viewed the game from the balcony and left the running of the bench to captain Mike McBain and forward David Struch.

But the club's chief executive Martin Weddell revealed: "It was a joint decision. Every play and every team decision is reviewed after every game and if this does not work then we will try something else."

Weddell also confirmed that Sacilotto's two-year deal will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season.

Bees will instead be appointing a player-coach as they drop down a level to play in the Findus British National League. That way the new squad can have the benefit of a high-earning player with only half of his salary included in the wage cap.

A number of ex-Bees are already known to have expressed interest in the job.

In the meantime Sacilotto's contract will be honoured, although it remains to be seen how much influence he will have on the team after they responded to his absence by halting a seven-game losing run that ended the regular season.

Bees looked a completely different side to the one that meekly surrendered 4-1 to Belfast at the John Nike Leisuresport Complex in the final game of the regular season only four days earlier.

And their man of the match Dino Bauba typified the change by opening the scoring after just 14 seconds with his first ever goal for the club.

Interestingly, in contradiction to coach Sacilotto's pre-match statements, it was the Lithuanian forward, rather than Jonathan Delisle, who was promoted to the first line with ISL's top goalscorer Dan Ceman and Scott Kirton.

Ryan Kuwabara equalised for Belfast with a five-on-three man powerplay at 6.29 while Steve O'Rourke (holding) and Chad Nelson (cross-checking) were sitting in the penalty box.

But Bauba, who had failed to net in 16 previous ISL games since being signed from the now-defunct Scottish Eagles, restored Bees' lead at 13.36, Kirton again grabbing an assist.

Bracknell netminder Brian Greer was in inspired form all night, helping to ensure a goalless second period, the highlight being a bust-up involving ex-Bee Paxton Schulte.

Bees continued to match Belfast in every department and, with 75 seconds of the game left, Belfast boss Dave Whistle gambled on forcing an equaliser by replacing netminder Ryan Bach with an extra skater.

But Schulte gave up possession, and from Ceman's pass Delisle slid the puck into an empty net with 30 seconds remaining to provoke wild celebrations among Bees' success-starved fans.

* BEES have a double header against title winners Sheffield this weekend.